After purchasing a ’48 Willys for the drive train (’95 YJ Swap) and looking through the paper work, I was shocked to discover a DZ 302 under the hood. Problem is, the motor has been decked, wiping out the VIN code that is stamped on the pad near the head. I looked down by the oil filter for an alternate VIN code, but the numbers stamped there are not the VIN. How is this a jeep question? Because the casting numbers and dates on the heads and block are ’69, is it worth any money to restorers? If so, I’ll try and sell and get a newer Chevy motor with injection for my swap. Your thoughts would be appreciated!

:rolleyes:

Never heard of a DZ 302. What does the DZ represent? I always thought a 302's was a Furd engine.:skull:

Originally posted by ranger
Never heard of a DZ 302. What does the DZ represent? I always thought a 302's was a Furd engine.:skull:

no no beleve it or not chev had a 302

damn..that is sick:eek: ...they used that engine in the Z28 camaro's...that engine is one fast mutha...if you sell it, how much?

The primary reason for my post, was to see if the motor still has value to resto guys, even thought it has been decked.

Anybody know?

I have seen DZ's with the DZ number still on them, sell on Hemmings.com for $3500. I'd like to get $2500 out if this, so I can buy a VORTEC.

:emb:

Originally posted by ajajeeper
The primary reason for my post, was to see if the motor still has value to resto guys, even thought it has been decked.

Anybody know?

I have seen DZ's with the DZ number still on them, sell on Hemmings.com for $3500. I'd like to get $2500 out if this, so I can buy a VORTEC.

:emb:

Motor Valuable.......ugh....YEAH!!!:eek: This is the motor that they put in the camaros. I think it has about 300hp and has a redline of 7500!!!! :eek: KEEP THIS ENGINE just add injection.... :beer: :p

Originally posted by Shaker
KEEP THIS ENGINE just add injection.... :beer: :p

I agree. Keep it and add injection. No legitimate collector will touch it since it is most likely stolen and definately impssible to verify it's origins. The missing numbers make it far less valuable.

Learn sometthing new everyday! Cool!!:skull:

Hello, if it is a true dz302 then yes it is worth money (especially if it has not been rebuilt. In that case big money) to restorers or someone with a first gen. z28 camaro. It would be a shame to leave such a sought after engine in a jeep when you could sell it to a restorer for a price that you could get a rebuilt small block of your choice. :beer:

I completely agree 4X4Nut. I would like to see it go to a Camaro guy also.

:p

Unfortunately, the one thing that makes a particular block valuable to a restorer are the numbers. If the numbers no longer exist, or have been obviously altered- as by decking- the block is almost worthless.

At least as resto material.

It's now simply worth whatever a late sixties' 302, 327 or 350 block is worth- very likely only a few hundred at best. What you have to do to get the most money out of it, is find somebody who wants a hi-po block like that for his racer/drag car/circle tracker, etc. But even then, it's not worth anywhere near a couple of grand.

Doc.

Ok here's how you get the numbers back. You'll need:

1. Muratic acid (any hardware store)
2. "Flux" brush (plumbing area of the said hardware store)
3. Baking soda in some water to nutralize the acid (any kitchen cupboard)


Dip your brush into the acid (better wear rubber gloves for this and the following) and wipe it across the area where the serial numbers were. Let it sit for a few minutes then pour some of the soda water on the area to rince and nutralize the acid. The numbers should start to show up but if the partially show or don't at all just try the process again.

Any time metal is bent or compressed (ie. stamping in the numbers) it changes the molecular structure and hardens the area. The acid will eat away at the softer area that hasn't been stamped faster then the harder area where it has. What you'll end up with is a reverse stamping. Even if it's a stolen engine it must have been stolen way back so the statute of limitations hast to have run out so now it's finders keepers!:D

ForestCam, that is some interesting stuff. I don't think (don't know) that the motor has been stolen at one point. I know however that block has been decked. Not with the intention of removing some numbers, but with the intention of creating a smaller combustion chamber....more compression.....better performance.

During the decking process, the blocked is milled. Will the numbers appear as you suggested, even though it has been milled?

Wild $#!^.

:eek:

Really depends on how far they went on the mill and how hard the original numbers were struck.

I'm by no means an expert in metalurgy just a trick my dad taught me way back.

Also this trick can come in handy to find out if that "100% original" vehicle has a 100% original engine, you'll see two sets of numbers if the serial was erased then re-struck.

Now here's a wild story. I knew this guy who bought a cherry 69 Caprice SS with a 327 (even had the original window sticker) about 15 years ago. First thing he did was spin a main and everyone told him to do an engine swap but he wanted to keep it all original so he paid for the mains and the crank to be ground.
When we were tearing down the engine we discovered his 327 was in fact a 307 and yes the serials did match and yes we checked and they were real. Someone at the factory put the wrong engine in this car! Just one of those oddball factory mistakes that actually makes it worth a little more and probably was worth the money to repair.

Keep in mind the acid trick does not "restore" the numbers. At best it can "develop" the numbers to the point they're legible enough to read, or at least guess at. If you're lucky they'll be somewhat readable, but chances are you'll still have to guess at certain characters, such as "B" or "8", simply from the possible combinations the VINs went through.

The block will never be worth much to a restorer, since the VIN has been milled off. But if the acid trick can develop the numbers well enough to verifying the block, it might be worth a tad more to a racer who wants a stout core.

Using acid is something of a last-ditch method though- check other sources for the info first.